Color of Your Soul
Chapter 2: Reason Why I'm Here
"If you feel like crying, don't force yourself to smile"
Sorry for pretending to be strong yesterday
When I knew how sweet you were being
Only a quarter of the day has passed and Tsuna was already sensing the rising tension in the classroom. Tsuna looked at Yotsuba from the corner of his eyes and saw the girl sleeping with a pool of saliva on her book. Scratch that, it was Gokudera's book. When the teacher was ready to begin teaching, he noticed that Yotsuba didn't have any textbooks, so he told Gokudera to share it with Yotsuba.
"Saa, barbarian-kun, let's share the book!" Yotsuba said to Gokudera, who shot a death glare at her.
"Stop calling me barbarian!"
Yotsuba held her chin high, "Okay, then, Hayato-kun, let's share the book!"
"How do you know my name?" Gokudera growled, "I knew you were up to no good!"
Yotsuba suddenly scooted closer to Gokudera and her face was only a few inches away from Gokudera's. Both Gokudera and Tsuna blushed. Yotsuba smiled sweetly at Gokudera, "Don't be shy, Hayato-kun! I came from Italy. Who doesn't know about Smoking Bomb Gokudera Hayato and his sister Scorpion Bianchi? Of course, someone like you wouldn't know about someone as high in status as me!"
"...Che! I'll let you know what high status means once I become Juudaime's right-hand man!" Gokudera scooted back to create distance between him and the newcomer. It was insulting to him, really, because he had to admit secretly that nobody actually approved of his strength back in Italy. What with being so young and having a sister and father like that to cover him with a shadow. He didn't like this apparent "top spy" girl of Vongola. There must've been some favoritism going on in this. Making a "tsk" noise in his mouth, Gokudera threw the textbook on Yotsuba's table. Gokudera made a face that said "take it, I don't need it!" Yotsuba's smile dropped, clearly bothered by Gokudera's rudeness. Slamming the book straight on her desk, Yotsuba put her head down and started sleeping, mouth slightly open.
Everyone in the classroom was watching Yotsuba now, making a pond with her faucet mouth. Gokudera was shaking with anger. So was the teacher, but the teacher didn't dare say anything because who knows what an angry Gokudera might do if he tried to interrupt.
"This damn woman…" Gokudera said dangerously, "I bet she's not even sleeping! She's doing this on purpose!"
"Heeee! Calm down, Gokudera-kun! This is still the classroom!" Tsuna said, frantically trying to wake Yotsuba up.
Yotsuba groaned as she woke up, "… Man, you guys sure are noisy!"
"YOU WEREN'T EVEN SLEEPING, STUPID WOMAN!" Gokudera stood in rage, lighting his bombs.
"Wahhhh! Stop, Gokudera-kun!" Tsuna cried.
"Gokudera-kun! Please sit down, we're trying to have class!" the teacher said bravely, earning a thankful smile from Tsuna.
"Yeah, Hayato-kun, you need to be quiet!"
"You too, Mikami-kun! Pay attention to class!"
Yotsuba made a reluctant face and looked down at Gokudera's book. "WHOA! Did it rain in here?"
Everyone in class fell backwards in their chairs except for the naïve Yamamoto and Kyoko. Gokudera and Tsuna were having such a big headache that they couldn't even say "THIS IS INDOORS!" Suddenly Yotsuba stood up, and walked toward the classroom's door.
"Where do you think you're going, Mikami-kun?" the teacher asked angrily.
Yotsuba answered slowly and sleepily, "I'm going to the infirmary; I think I caught a cold from the rain…"
Yotsuba left the classroom before the teacher could stand back up from his fall.
Before Yotsuba went to the infirmary, she took a little tour of the school. This school is quite small, but the uniform is cute, though, she thought as she walked slower and slower. Sighing as she stood in front of the door of the infirmary, she slid the door open hesitantly.
"Yocchan! You came to see me? Give me a mouth-mouth!" Dr. Shamal glomped Yotsuba, making her fall backwards. Yotsuba glared at Dr. Shamal and said through gritted teeth, "get off me, Shamal."
"Oh?" Shamal raised an eyebrow, interested in Yotsuba's reaction, "That's rare! You didn't punch me today. Too tired?"
"Yeah. Let me sleep in here for a while," Yotsuba said, taking Shamal's helping hand.
"That's strange… you have a weak body, but usually you can keep yourself awake for at least 9 hours…"
"Yeah, but jumping down from that helicopter was more tiring than I thought," Yotsuba smiled tiredly and collapsed onto the white bed, "Wake me up when it's lunch time. I still have to tell Vongola why I'm here."
"Aren't you afraid that I might do something to you when you're sleeping?"
"…"
"Dead-asleep…" Shamal chuckled, "what a troublesome child."
The doctor opened and closed the door to the infirmary quietly. He was too used to the girl's selfish ways; anyone who'd worked for Vongola as long as him knew how spoiled Yotsuba actually is. But there is personality that comes out from her very rarely, when she is serious, that people could accept. And that, Shamal thought, hasn't happened in several years. But he knew that these peaceful days won't last for very long starting now.
Finally it was noon. Tsuna and his friends gathered up at the rooftop as usual to eat lunch. Although Tsuna was somewhat distressed by the appearance of Mikami Yotsuba, he couldn't help worry about the girl. What if she got lost on her way to the infirmary and went in the reception room instead? And she wasn't wearing a Namimori uniform, so she'd definitely get "bitten to death" by Hibari! All of his worries were written on his face, and his friends noticed.
"Juudaime, are you worried about that stupid woman?" Gokudera asked.
"Eh?" Tsuna snapped out of his trance.
"Hahaha, don't worry, Tsuna!" Yamamoto laughed and patted Tsuna on the shoulder, "That Mikami should be fine! Didn't the little kid say that she's smart?"
"You're right, but Hibari-san is still dangero…"
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Yotsuba's voice was heard from behind them. The three boys turned their heads toward her voice and found her standing on top of the fence. She was wearing the Namimori uniform, too, except she was wearing her shorts instead of the skirt. She jumped down in front of as Tsuna was shouting "How did you get up there? It's dangerous up there!"
Yotsuba straightened up her uniform and sat down in front of the group, "I've learned quite a few things from Reborn, you know!"
"Ciaossu!" Speaking of the devil, Reborn popped out from under the roof.
"Gahhh! Reborn! Just how many secret pathways do you have?" Tsuna stumbled backwards at Reborn's entrance. After calming his heartbeat, Tsuna turned back his attention to Yotsuba, "Yotsuba-chan, where were you all this time?"
Yotsuba said sleepily, "I was in the infirmary. Sleeping. I was born with a sleeping disease, so I need at least 15 hours of sleeping each day and more if I participated in anything that requires a lot of energy."
"Re…really?" Tsuna suddenly felt bad for the girl. No wonder her eyes always look so sleepy! "Wha…what happens if you don't get enough sleep?"
"I would die."
"EHHHHH?" the boys exclaimed simultaneously.
"Just kidding," Yotsuba stuck out her tongue, making the three boys fall, "honestly, I don't know what would happen to me. I tried experimenting, though. Once I tried to sleep for only 8 hours like normal people, but when I woke up I started vomiting so much that I had to be sent to the hospital. Another time I forced myself to pull an all-nighter with movies, and then the next day I got a fever that lasted 3 weeks. But that's about all, though, because I tried to stay up even longer to see what happens and my body just gave out and I slept for 4 days straight."
"But Mikami still manages to be a good spy," Reborn said, "Mikami, I think it's about time you tell us what you're here for!"
The boys all leaned in to hear Yotsuba's reason. Yotsuba cleared her throat, "well, to make the long story short, I ran away from the Vongola headquarters…"
Before Yotsuba could finish her sentence, Gokudera shouted, "I KNEW IT! You're a traitor and now you're here to assassinate Juudaime!"
"With you throwing your bombs around, I think Tsuna-kun would die first in your hands before any assassin can get the chance," Yotsuba said sleepily, but making Gokudera shake with anger again. If looks could kill, then let's just say Yotsuba is immortal. Ignoring Gokudera's death glares, Yotsuba continued with her story, "Tsuna-kun, there are a lot of personal things that I can't tell you right now. But I need to become your bodyguard so that those family members back in Italy won't come and take me back!"
"Eh? My bodyguard?" Tsuna repeated.
"Hahaha, that sounds like fun! Tsuna, let her join the game!" Yamamoto said happily.
"This is not a game, baseball idiot!" Gokudera yelled in Yamamoto's ear, "Juudaime doesn't need a weak little girl who can't even keep herself awake to be his bodyguard! He has me!"
"Go…Gokudera-kun…"
Yotsuba stared at Gokudera, suddenly looking serious, "Smoking Bomb… I may have a weak body and a sleeping problem, but I have something that Tsuna-kun needs a lot right now: a brain and a strategic mind."
Isn't that what you lack the most? Tsuna had wanted to say that, but he thought that maybe he was wrong considering Reborn's compliments on her and her serious expression. Reborn kicked Tsuna and ordered him to accept Yotsuba's offer, and Gokudera stopped objecting. But before Tsuna could open his mouth to say anything, the door to the rooftop slammed open. There stood Hibari Kyouya.
"Herbivores gathering…" Hibari said in a dangerously low voice and noticed Yotsuba, "and an intruder, too. I'm going to bite you to death!"
Hibari charged at Yotsuba and Tsuna shouted out her name in panic. Yotsuba remained calm, however, and leaned backwards as Hibari swung his tonfa. Missed. Hibari and the bystanders were slightly shocked that Yotsuba avoided Hibari's attack so easily.
Yotsuba stood up and dusted herself off, "so you're Tsuna-kun's family member that goes around 'biting' people… for your information, I'm not an intruder. Can't you see my uniform?"
"I know no uniform with black shorts," Hibari said and charged at Yotsuba again.
Yotsuba stepped back and held out two hands. Just as Hibari's tonfa made contact with her hands, Yotsuba stepped to the side and pushed softly with her hands. Hibari's tonfa moved along with her hands and he moved past her. To everyone's surprise, neither of them was hurt.
"Wao… not bad…" Hibari smirked and attacked even faster, while Yotsuba used the same technique to divert Hibari's attacks.
"Yotsuba-chan… sugoi…" Tsuna gaped.
"I may not be a strong fighter like Takeshi-kun and Hayato-kun, but something like Aikidou* I can do," Yotsuba smiled sweetly as she diverted another one of Hibari's attacks.
"Che… cheap moves…" Gokudera muttered, not admitting that he was slightly impressed.
Hibari paused with his attacks and stared at Yotsuba with his sharp eyes, "Why aren't you attacking?"
"Well, I'm not much of a fighter," Yotsuba said sleepily, "you're a very fast guy. I'm getting quite tired. Since we're all family shall we stop fighting, skylark-kun?"
As Yotsuba gradually let her guards down, Hibari attacked again. Unable to react quickly enough, Yotsuba was struck with the tonfa and fell to the ground. Tsuna panicked again; Gokudera took out his bombs; Yamamoto held out his baseball bat. Yotsuba coughed a bit and stood back up.
"I told you, I'm not much of a fighter," Yotsuba frowned, "but if you want to fight that much, my pet can play with you for a while!"
Yotsuba fumbled in her bag and took out a white creature that looked like a fur ball. It had little black-bean-eyes and little hands and feet. The boys gaped at the unknown creature.
"Wha… what is that?" Tsuna cried.
"Stupid woman! How is that little thing gonna beat Hibari?"
"Hahaha, what is that? It's kind of cute!"
Yotsuba patted the fur ball in her hand, "He's name is Kabi. I found him when I was traveling in the Himalayas last year. It's a special one among his kind, too. You see, if I fed something other than fruits to him," Yotsuba stuffed a piece of cookie into the creature's mouth. The fur ball suddenly jumped down to the ground as it increased in size rapidly, turning into a monster-like creature standing on two feet, about 4 times the size of Yotsuba herself. The monster roared, showing its saw-like teeth, and swung its huge fists around.
"Isn't he cute?" Yotsuba smiled, "he's a yeti!"
"HE'S NOT CUTE NO MATTER HOW I LOOK AT HIM!" Tsuna and Gokudera both shouted.
"Ohh?" Hibari suddenly looked interested, but stopped in his track when he noticed the crack that the yeti made on the roof.
Yotsuba noticed and said, "Ahh, sorry. I forgot that Kabi is rather heavy. If you stop trying to kill me, I'll turn Kabi back to normal and I'll pay for the damages on the rooftop, deal?"
Hibari said nothing but put his tonfa away. Yotsuba sighed in relieve and plucked a piece of hair from Kabi and the yeti turned back to the fur ball. Tsuna also sighed in relieve. Hibari stepped over the damaged cement blocks to walk away, but before he opened the door he turned back around to face Yotsuba.
"Herbivore. What's your name?"
"Me?" Yotsuba pointed at herself, "I'm Mikami Yotsuba, not herbivore, skylark-kun!"
"Mikami Yotsuba," Hibari repeated her name as he left the rooftop, "a worthy opponent."
"Yare, yare," Yotsuba sighed, "looks like I've gotten some unwanted attention."
"Yotsuba-chan, are you all right?" Tsuna went up to Yotsuba with caring eyes. Yotsuba nodded but her knees gave out and she fell to the floor, "I just… need some sleep."
By the time Yotsuba woke up from her nap, school was already over. Yotsuba blinked a couple of times before she completely awakes and saw the back of Yamamoto's head. Yamamoto was carrying her on his back, walking away from school along with Tsuna and Gokudera. Tsuna was the first to notice Yotsuba awake.
"Yotsuba-chan, you're awake!" Tsuna said with a relieved smile.
Yotsuba returned the smile patted Yamamoto on the shoulder, "Thanks, Takeshi-kun! And sorry for having you carry me…"
"Maa, it's nothing!" Yamamoto said with his carefree smile, "You're really light, anyway!"
"Really?" Yotsuba said and wiggled on Yamamoto's back to get into a comfortable position, "You're very warm, Takeshi-kun!"
Not suitable for the mafia world at all.
"I'm home!" Yotsuba called out into the empty apartment, "Oh, that's right… I ran away from home…"
Yotsuba walked slowly into the house and sank into a couch tiredly. It was a very long day. Yotsuba took a deep breath and let it out, and took out her cell phone. Flipping it open, Yotsuba sweat-dropped from seeing the 30 missed calls from the Vongola headquarters in Italy.
Must've been dad, Yotsuba thought.
"Sorry, daddy… I can't go home right now…" Yotsuba muttered, "…because I've had enough of Nii-san…"
Throwing her phone aside, Yotsuba walked upstairs to the shower.
What Shamal had been feeling today were all accurate. Peace will soon be replaced, especially with the appearance of Mikami Yotsuba in the small town of Namimori.
TBC.
*Aikidou is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. This requires very little physical energy, as the aikidōka (aikidou practitioner) "leads" the attacker's momentum using entering and turning movements. The techniques are completed with various throws or joint locks. Aikidou can be categorized under the general umbrella of grappling arts.
(Taken from Wikipedia)
A/N: So how was this chapter? I hope everyone is getting to know more and more about Yotsuba! And hopefully… likes her. Hehehe. Next chapter Ryohei will appear for the first time! Please review!